Franklin Township Family Believes Tamiflu Led To Teen's Suicide

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, IN -- A Franklin Central High School student took his life after being diagnosed with the flu Thursday, and his family believes his decision to commit suicide may have been caused by flu medication, WXIN reports. According to the news outlet, the Franklin Township family says they believe 16-year-old Charlie Harp's suicide may have been influenced by severe side effects of Tamiflu, which he started taking right after he was diagnosed with the illness. Less than 24 hours later, and just two doses in, WXIN says Harp's aunt and guardian, Jackie Ray, texted the teen, but didn't get a response.

“I knew something was wrong. My husband came home and found him in the house,” Ray told WXIN, with the news outlet adding that Ray's husband, Brad, discovered Harp had committed suicide in the garage.

According to WXIN, the medication was the only thing the family can think of when trying to figure out why Harp took his own life, as the teen's loved ones say he was thriving in his classes and excited about his involvement on the school's wrestling team.

“He’s an amazing child full of life, happy all the time; you just never see him without a smile on his face,” Ray told WXIN.

In a post on a GoFundMe page made for the family and their funeral expenses, Ray stated, "Charlie brought so much to our family, and boy was that kid one of a kind. He was loved by everyone that he came in contact with. I truly can not begin to explain how broken my heart is, as well as Brad and the kids. "

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According to WXIN, the couple said the teen had never expressed suicidal thoughts and didn't have any signs of depression.

“Just thinking the whole way here what’s different?” Brad Ray told WXIN. “He’s been the same. What did we do differently? And it clicked, he just started new medicine.”

The Tamilfu warning label clearly states pediatric patients may be at an increased risk of confusion or abnormal behavior, which the Rays told WXIN they weren’t properly warned about what that could mean.

WXIN says the family hopes to spread the word so other families are aware of the possible side effects from Tamiflu.

WXIN reached out to the maker of Tamiflu, and a spokesperson said they can’t comment on this specific case at this time but released the following statement to the news outlet: "Neuropsychiatric events have been reported during the administration of Tamiflu in patients with influenza, especially in children and adolescents." They add patients should be closely monitored for behavioral changes.

According to WXIN, the maker of Tamiflu says they take all reports seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation, but also stated there’s no data suggesting a link for such events with antiviral treatment.

In California, a mother said her 15-year-old daughter suffered terrifying hallucinations after taking Tamiflu in recent weeks. "I would say this was a psychotic episode type hallucinations," the woman said. "It was very scary and very real to her. She just was crying and was saying she was seeing things in the room and that the room was closing in on her."

>>More via fox59.com, including information on services for Harp, which run Wednesday and Thursday.

Photo of Harp courtesy of GoFundMe; Tamiflu - AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle